The territory included in the village of Medina was mainly covered
with forest trees when the work was begun here on the Erie Canal.

Mr. Joseph Ellicott had, at an early day, located a large tract of
land here of the Holland Land Company, including the rapids in the Oak
Orchard Creek, but settlement was commenced at Shelby Center, nobody at
that time expecting a village would grow up here.

Mr. Samuel F. Gear build a sawmill for the Holland Company or Mr.
Ellicott, on the falls in the Oak Orchard Creek, in Medina, about the
year 1805, and about the same time the Salt Works were established at
the brine springs, north of the village. This mill was a cheaply
constructed affair. No roads leading to it were made, and before the war
of 1812, few settlers located here. They could not get their logs to the
mill for the distance and bad roads. The mill was not kept in repair and
soon tumbled into ruins.

Mr. Ellicott rented out the salt works, but working them was
impracticable, and not much salt was made there until the springs came
into possession of Isaac Bennett in 1818.

Mr. Sylvanus Coon opened the first store in 1824, before the canal
was finished, and some small establishments for selling goods to those
working on the canal soon followed, but the opening of navigation was
the signal for commencing the improvement of the water power on the
Creek and building up the town.

In May, 1825, David E. Evans laid the foundations of his large
flouring mill, afterwards owned by William R. Gwynn, standing on the
race near the railroad.

This mill was built of stone, John Ryan master mason, and finished in
1826. It was finally burned in December, 1859.

The State of New York built dam in the creek at the time the canal
was bug, and made a raceway to carry the creek water into the canal, as
a feeder. This race proved too low for the purpose and was abandoned.

In 1825 Mr. Evans made an arrangement with the State, under which he
raised a dam higher up the stream, and connected this by a raceway to
the canal. Evan's drew water from this raceway to turn the mill, and
sold water power to others to be drawn from his race.

Joseph Nixon built a brewery here about the year 1827. After a few
years it was turned into a distillery, and malt liquors or whisky were
made there for several years.

This brewery was burned three times, and the site is now occupied by
Bignall & Co., as a foundry.

the first regular physician, in 1827. Dr. Lathrop followed soon
after.

The first attorney was Nathan Sawyer. The first carpenter, Samuel F.
Gear. The first iron founder was Simeon Bathgate.

The post office was established in Medina in 1829, and Justus
Ingersoll was the first post master.

David Ford and John parsons were tinsmiths. Otis Turner, and Chase
and Britt were grocers. Clark and Fairman were early merchants.

The first fire company was organized August 16th, 1832

The first bell in a steeple was raised on the Presbyterian Church in
1836.

This was the first bell in the village, and the only church bell
between Albion and Lockport for several years. It was rung a number of
times every day to regulate the hours of labor and rest of the
inhabitants.

A town clock was afterwards procured and placed in the steeple of the
Methodist Church, to serve in the place of so much bell ringing. The
clock proving a poor machine was soon given up.

Justus Ingersoll, who had been a tanner in Shelby, moved to Medina in
1826, and built a large brick building for a tannery west of the creek,
near the canal.

This was afterwards converted into a flouring mill, and burned
December, 1858.

Mr. Ingersoll was justice of the peace, postmaster, Indian agent, and
Judge of the Court of Common Pleas of the county, and an active man in
village affairs.

The first religious society organized in Medina was the
Episcopalians.

"St. John's Church in Medina" filed a certificate

of incorporation in the county clerk's office under that name
November 12th, 1827.

Rev. Richard Salmon, missionary, was then in charge.

Bishop Hobart held the first Episcopal service by a Bishop in Orleans
County, in this church September 7th, 1828.

The corporate officers of the church for its first year were Justus
Ingersoll and Richard Van Dyke, Wardens.

Mr. David E. Evans gave the church a piece of land on which to erect
their church edifice, the foundations of which were laid in 1831.

The first religious services were held in this building, in the
basement, on Christmas Eve, 1832. Joshua M. Rogers was the minister.

The house was finished, and consecrated by Bishop Onderdonk,
September 30th, 1836, where it now stands, on Center Street.

The Methodists filed a certificate to incorporate a society by name
of "The First Methodist Episcopal Society in Medina." October
1st, 1830.

They filed another certificate altering their name, among other
things, April 7th, 1834.

They commenced building their house of worship of stone, in 1833. In
raising the roof the timbers gave way and eleven men fell in the ruins.
No one was killed, some bones were broken.

The basement of this house was finished and used in 1834, but it was
several years before the whole house was completed.

This house was taken down and rebuilt in 1850, and thoroughly
repaired in 1869.

The Baptist filed a certificate to incorporate "The First
Baptist Church and Society in Medina." March 14th, 1831.

Their first house of worship was a building put up for a barn in the
rear of the brick hotel, on the southwest corner of Center and Shelby
streets. This was lathed and plastered and seated, and used for
religious meetings until their first meeting house was dedicated in the
winter of 1832.

Their new church on the corner of West and Center streets was
commenced in the fall of 1870.

The Presbyterians built the first building designed for religious
worship in Medina, on the north side of Cross, near the corner of West
street.

Deacon Theophilus cook commenced, alone and unaided, getting out the
timber for this house. Seeing his zeal showing itself in faith and works,
Mr. Ephraim Scovill joined him in the work. Others followed with thier
labor and contributions, till a building about thirty by forty-five feet
was erected, in which the Presbyterians worshipped from about 1830, to
February 17th, 1836, when their new church edifice was
dedicated.

The first house was then used for school purposes several years, when
it was sold to the roman Catholics, who moved it upon the same lot with
their church, built an addition to it, and it is not their school house.

The Presbyterian Church was organized with seventeen members, march
19th, 1829.

The Presbyterian Society was incorporated August 27th,
1831, by name of "The Trustees of the First Society of the
Congregational Church at Medina."

The first printing press in Medina was set up in the fall of 1832,
and the first newspaper called "Medina Herald," published by
D. P. Adams.

After the Erie Canal was located and surveyed

through Medina, attention was called to this place as the probably
site of a village, and about the year 1823, Mr. Ebenezer Mix surveyed
and laid out the village for the proprietors and named it Medina.

Mr. John B. Ellicott, a relative of Joseph Ellicott, was sent here by
the proprietors to superintend their interests, as local agent.

Mr. Artemas Allen came to Medina in 1822, and was the first mason who
settled in the village. He had charge as master mason in building the
aqueduct for the Erie Canal on Oak Orchard Creek.

The stone for this work were mainly obtained from the bank of the
creek north of the canal. The remaining stone were from Shelby Center,
or Clarendon, and a few from Lockport.

Mr. Allen built a large brick tannery and dwelling house for Justus
Ingersoll, and a large stone building called the Eagle Hotel, which was
burned some years ago.

Mr. Allen claims he first discovered the quarry of flag in stone at
Medina, got out the first flags, and laid a number of rods of sidewalk
in front of the resident of David E. Evans in Batavia.

The stone from which the water line used on the aqueduct was made
were obtained between Medina and Shelby Center, burned on log heaps, and
ground with an upright revolving stone.

Mr. Artemas Allen removed to Coldwater, Michigan, where is now
living.